The country now has its 13th Justice Zone (JZ) -- a venue where law enforcers, prosecutors, judges, and representatives of local government units (LGUs) meet to discuss and iron out solutions to issues related to speedy dispensation of justice.
The new JZ is in Dagupan City in Pangasinan. It was launched last March 25 at the city’s CSI Stadia by the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC) composed of the Supreme Court (SC), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, DOJ Undersecretary Raul T. Vasquez, DILG Undersecretary Lord A. Villanueva, Dagupan City Mayor Belen T. Fernandez, and Governance in Justice II (GOJUST II) Senior Advisor for Access to Justice Hector D. Soliman led the launching ceremony.
Chief Justice Gesmundo was joined by SC Associate Justices Rodil V. Zalameda, Jose Midas P. Marquez and Maria Filomena D. Singh, and Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva and Executive Judge Mervin Jovito S. Samadan.
The 12 other JZs are in Quezon City, Cebu City, Davao City, Angeles City, Bacolod City, Naga City, Calamba City, Balanga City, Baguio City, specialty zone areas in Zamboanga City (Trafficking-Free Justice Zone), Tagaytay City (Economic Tourism Justice Zone), and Puerto Princesa City (Green Justice Zone).
The JZ in Dagupan City is the sixth zone launched by the JSCC since Gesmundo assumed as head of the judiciary in April 2021. The JSCC was set up in 2010.
During the launching the SC’s Public Information Office (PIO) said that “Chief Justice Gesmundo underscored the significance of the Justice Zone initiative, highlighting its role in revolutionizing the delivery of justice services across the nation.”
"The launch of the Dagupan City Justice Zone marks a pivotal moment in our pursuit of real-time justice delivery. This initiative exemplifies our collective dedication to ensuring that justice is not only swift but also accessible to all citizens,” Gesmundo said.
The PIO said that Gesmundo “reassured that the JSCC will keep exploring ways to make the Justice Zones even more responsive to the needs and challenges faced by the communities they serve, keeping in mind that projects and interventions also need to be aligned with higher-level plans and complement other initiatives in order to be effective.”
Justice Singh, chairperson of JSCC’s technical working group on processes and capacity building, said that the council was formed “with the goal of delivering more cohesive, more comprehensive solutions to justice sector issues.”
Being a JZ, Singh said is “a distinction to be likened to a gold standard in excellence in governance, but this time applied to the delivery of services -- responsive in real time, when the people need it, not when it is convenient for us to deliver it.”
She pointed out that the setting up of JZs is one of several programs embodied in the Philippine Development Plan 2023- 2028 (PDP) of the administration of President Marcos to ensure peace and security and enhance the administration of justice.
Justice Undersecretary Vasquez reaffirmed the DOJ’s “commitment and duty to perform [our] role as the government’s leader in law enforcement under the prism of human rights”.
He cited the success of the JSCC’s Jail Decongestion Summit in December 2023 which, in line with the DOJ’s twin efforts involving “input reduction” and “output increase,” paved the way for the release of 11,312 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) from the country’s detention facilities.
For his part, Local Government Undersecretary Villanueva pointed out that equitable access to justice is a critical component in ensuring that human rights are “protected and preserved within a robust and well-performing society” and that “the JSCC’s vision of making justice accessible to Filipinos resonates with its principals.”
Mayor Fernandez expressed the city’s gratitude for the opportunity to host the JZ. She then assured the city’s commitment to enhance access to justice for all its residents.
The setting up of JZs in the country is supported by development partners like the European Union Justice Sector Reform Program: Governance in Justice II (GOJUST II).